Calling in the experts
Sometimes it takes a setback to make you look at yourself and to realise that you might need a bit of help.The failure to complete the Keilder 100 and the lack of progress in my road racing and time trialling led me to the conclusion that I needed some help to make any progress.
I like having a routine to follow and set times and exercises to work to and this is exactly what i got when I visited Mark of www.mckeown-coaching.co.uk. Mark put me on his computrainer and then put me through my paces. An excruciating Ramp Threshold Test to get my training zones set, moving on to a Peak Power test and ending with a Steady State to Limit of tolerance Test. The worst test however was the body fat measurement, and its official I am carrying too much body fat.
I was there for almost three hours and had a great time, getting very helpful advice on training and diet and goal setting. The following email ran to 13 pages and gave me a detailed schedule to follow to achieve my goals, and some very in-depth nutritional advice.
My main target for 2012 is to complete the K100! Other goals involve Time Trialling and road racing. Having seriously underestimated the mountain bike marathon this year I didn’t want to leave it to chance and think i could breeze through on the seasons fitness and good looks.
The good thing about having a coach is being able to ask them advice , bounce ideas off them, and to get motivated when that motivation can be difficult to find.
So far it has been money well spent, but I suppose the ultimate endorsement is if I realise my goals and enjoy a post race drink in The Grapes after completing the off-road 100 miles.
